Minimal practices equal maximum results

CIF Executive Director Roger Blake is proposing that team practices be limited to three hours per day. That would include chalk talks, film reviews, weightlifting, physical contact and meetings.
— John R. McCutchen

CIF Executive Director Roger Blake is proposing that team practices be limited to three hours per day. That would include chalk talks, film reviews, weightlifting, physical contact and meetings.
— John R. McCutchen

Wednesday, the California Interscholastic Federation executive director introduced three proposals to San Diego section athletic directors during the annual CIF symposium at the Hall of Champions. One called for discussion of practice-time allotment, questioning the bylaws governing — or, not governing — practice.

“Do our coaches really need to exceed three hours to prepare their team?” he asked, pointing at flaws in the rulebook. “Even three hours seems ridiculous.”

I’m inclined to agree, strongly.

Currently, CIF bylaws prohibit Sunday practice, limit the number of practices a team can have before the season and impose other regulations on non-game team activities, but it places no restrictions on time.

Four hours? Sure. Five hours? Why not? It will produce a payoff on game day or during a tournament, supposedly.

Blake balks at the rationale, the abuse of current policy. “There’s no scientific data supporting the idea that this is beneficial in any way to these kids,” Blake said.

Thus, he proposes placing a three-hour time maximum on practice, which constitutes any activity that the coach or coaches organize outside of class. Three hours max for activity — chalk talks, film reviews, weightlifting, physical contact and meetings — per day.

“The experienced, knowledgeable coaches know that after two hours, the comprehension of the student athlete decreases dramatically,” Blake said.

No comprehension yields no understanding or no retainment. So, you’re subjecting teens to grueling, marathon practices for fun, then?

“We often lose or forget what high school sports is about,” Blake said. “Ninety-eight percent of kids don’t go on. It’s an educational based program. We have the opportunities to provide so many wonderful and great things for kids. The benefits are endless. And it’s priceless, but sometimes as adults, we forget it. The reason we have to have these bylaws is because sometimes we have idiot coaches and we have to remind them.”

Or scold them for ridiculous behavior.

Exceeding three hours per day for any sport — even football — is ludicrous. Reiterate the fundamentals, teach the new wrinkles in the game plan, walk through opposing teams’ offense and defense, practice special teams. Done.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

I’m not a coach, nor claim to be, but I’ve played high school football, so I’m speaking from a little experience. Our program consistently made the playoffs and fought for a state championship twice in four seasons. We practiced two hours — weightlifting included.

Top-notch programs usually do. I believe, often, it’s a reflection upon the coach — how well they can teach and explain complex designs.

“For 98 percent of you, it won’t impact you,” Blake said. “For the 2 percent of you that have the idiot coach, buckle up.”

Only if the proposal is passed, assuming principals and athletic directors vote “yea” or “nay” in the spring, as expected.

When Blake announced this Wednesday, the crowd reacted positively. Perhaps Blake’s rationale struck a chord.

“At the collegiate level, they have a three-hour time limit. At the professional level, they have a time limit for practice, even less,” Blake sad.

“Why? Well, at the professional level, it’s a business and they’re protecting their commodity. They’re protecting their investment.”